Self-watering flower pot assembly



May 12, 1959 R. s. LoNGAcRE SELF-WATERING FLOWER PoT ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 23, 1957 Y F/a.3 54

VIII/ VllI/l,

' 3634 4652- f/az 58\\N 58 IN VEN TOR. Russa/ .5 avancee OREY May 12, 1959 R. S. LONGACRE SELF-WATERING FLOWER 'POT ASSEMBLY Filed July 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i f f f f I f l f r f r n i r INVENTOR. Russia 5. owne/e5 RVZ/ZW w United States Patent O ...SELF-WAIERINGzELoWERroT ASSEMBLY ARussell S.1Longacre, York, Pa.

- Applicationruxy 2a, i .1957, seramo. 673,644

11o claims. (el. v4v-as) This invention relates to .a .self-.watering flower .pot .assembly .and comprisesv -an v"improvement over pending ap- ;plication Serial No. 596,360, filed by the :same inventor.

The present application comprises a continuation-inpart of application Serial No. .630,216, filed .December 24, 1956, ,now abandoned.

Conventional flower pots, and vvparticularly those used indoors, usually are placed upon a suitable dish or lother .-receptacle. Watering .of `the plants being .grown in the fflowerpots usually Vis accomplished by using .a watering -can or pitcher vto pour `water into .the .upper end of the flower pot. This method of watering ,a plant frequently lresults `in the plant .receivingtoo .much water, thus being harmful to theiplant.

.Such conventional .flower lpots usually are .provided with a hole in the bottom thereof and .in .order toobviate too much water being `placed in .the pot .such as by watering the same from the top, watering of the plant .may `be accomplishedlbyplacing water in Athe receptacle upon which the pot is placed, whereby the plant and soil within the jpot .draw Water .from `the 'receptacle by ,capillary attraction.

v:Especially Lin regard to raising `certain delicate plants such as African violets which flourish best under very rez stricte d 'watering conditions, even .this :latter means of watering the plants frequently .provides too `much Water, JIt is l.not possible `to 4control the `water however ,in any .accurate manner `due to the fact that the .hole in the bottom -of the pot is ,ofxed dimension and cannot be adjusted in any way.

,It is .the Lprincipal ;object.. of ,the ,present invention to provide a ilowerpot assembly .comprising an exterior container which serves as a reservoir and .an 4interior flower `pot is suspended into :said container, .the bottom vof the ilower ';pot .having .an Aadjustable water inlet valve carried Vthereby, .whereby .theamount'of water to be introduced fintovthe pot may be regulated to .a high degree of acouracy, comprising as little as a .few ,drops .a day if this .amount ,is .all *.that is .required bytheplant being zgrown .fin 4the Ipot.

A further .objectof the invention is .to provide a valve iunit which may be manufactured ,separately .from ,the .flower pot assembly and inserted into ahole in the bot- .tom of the .flower p ot, the valve assembly being in watertight relationship with .thenpot Still another Object of the`invention is to provide a valve assembly which is readily manufactured by simple andinexpensive means such as -molding the same -from Uresinous vmateriaLthe general characteristics of v-the valve unit VJbeing `that `of =a needle'valve which lproduces a higlily -acouratemeans for introducing -water into the flower 'pot \fromithe-exteriorvreservoir containing the water supply.

A :still 'further object of the :invention comprises :pro-

niiding, in one embodiment 4of the invention, means -respectvely provided on `the adjustable .valve .and exterior container .which interengage and permit adjustment Aof the valve isimply by Relative movement between the ex- .'.ter-ior container .andginterior flower pot, Vpreferably about example. is provided vwith .an 'imsetoportion 26 .to l.provide a recess Patented May 12, 1959 ICC lowing specification .and illustrated .in .the .accompanying .drawing comprising a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical .sectional viewof .a .ower pot assembly embodying xthe principles of .the presentin-vention.

Fig, 2 is a fragmentary verticalelevation of afportion ,of the exterior containercomprising the waterreservoir.

Fig. 3 comprises a fragmentary vertical .sectional exploded view, on .a .scale larger than used in Fig. l, 4illustrating details of the valve unit rand the portion of .the bottom of .the ilower pot .to whichsaid unit isconnected.

Fig. 4 is a view similar .to Fig. 3 but showing the valve runit inserted jinto the bottom of the flower pot.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the flanged, cylindrical v.jacket or body of .the valve .unit per se.

Fig. 6 -is a .bottom ,plan view of the valve .unit. and illustrates the pointer and indicating means Aby which the setting of the valve .readily :is .determined visually.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. v1 .but .showing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is an exploded, fragmentary, verticalsectional yview, on a .larger scale than Fig. 7, .showing details of the embodiment of the `invention shownin Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 isa fragmentary vertical sectional view ofthe embodiment shown in Fig. 7 Ona -still greater .scale .than in 'Fig.f8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view taken on'the line 10-1 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is `a .fragmentary plan view taken .on .the line 11-11 of Fig. s.

Referring to Fig. l, in `which the ilower pot assembly rcomprising the present invention is-illustrated in exemplary manner, said assembly comprises .an exterior .container 10 having ari-opening 12 at the upperend thereof. Said container comprises a water reservoir and, I.under .mostconditions of use, saidreservoir may be iilledsa .certain .amount prior t0 ,inserting ,through .the Vopening ,12 thereof a .ilower pot 14 which is suspended by .a convenvtional flange 16 on the ower pot from the .upper .end of the reservoir container 10. l

If desired, and especially for convenienceof .manufacture, the exterior containerlrnay bebifpartite and ycorn- Vprise an .upper .portion 1'8' and a lower yportionf20 which, for example, `may be separately molded .from any suitable material such as synthetic resin, glass, or.o ther..ce ramic material. The upper .and lower portions respectively may be provided with overlapped flanges v22. and 24, best shown in Fig. 2, to comprise a half-together joint, said flanges being cemented together or otherwise secured to .comprise a unitary .exterior container. rBy using this method of manufacture, .diiferent colored materials may .be used respectively for the .upper and lower 'portions, and thus enhance the decorative .appearance'of .is formed. 'Synthetic lresin forms a highly suitable material from which the flower pot 14 may be molded for Preferably, the .bottom of the flower .pot 14 3 28 to accommodate a valve unit to be described hereinafter. Preferably, the inset portion 26 is provided substantially centrally thereof with a cylindrical hole 30.

The water contained in reservoir is introduced into the lower end of the ower pot 14 through a valve unit 32 comprising the principal feature of the present invention. Said valve unit comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow body 34, the upper end of which is closed. Such closed end is provided with a small water inlet hole 36. The other end of -the body 34 has an annular radially extending ange 38. The flanged end of the body 34 also is internally threaded as indicated at 40, said threads extending partially lalong the interior of the body 34. Preferably, an internal chamber 42 is provided within the body 34.

The valve unit also comprises a needle valve member 44 which has external threads 46 thereon, complementary to the internal threads 40 of the body 34. Further, said complementary threads preferably are cylindrical for'ease of manufacture and operation of the valve The outer end of the needle valve member is provided with an operating handle 48, one end of said handle preferably being shaped to provide an indicating point 50. The opposite end of the needle valve member 44 is pointed to provide a needle end 52 which engages the water inlet hole 36 in valve body 34.

The outer face of the llange 38 of the valve body member also is provided with a suitable indicia S4 which, as

illustrated in Fig. 6, comprises the notation Wet and an arrow indicating the direction in which the handle 48 should be turned in order to open the inlet hole 36 to a greater extent and thereby permit a greater amount of water to be drawn into the flower pot 14 from the reservoir 10. Said indicia 54 merely is exemplary and other types of indicia such as graduated numbers or the like may be used in lieu of the indicia which is illustrated.

The valve body 34 preferably is made from a suitable compressible material such 'as synthetic resin, such resin preferably being rubber-like in physical characteristics. One specific example of synthetic resin which is suitable is polyethylene. However, by mentioning this specilic resin, it is not intended that the invention shall be restricted to the use of such resin only. Other relatively soft or compressible resins are available, 'as well as certain synthetic rubber compositions. Said valve body may conveniently and inexpensively Ibe manufactured by molding the same from the selected material and substantially no mshing of the valve body is required after being molded. For convenience of molding however, the valve body 34 may be bipartite and lthe several parts be suitably cemented or otherwise connected to form the completed body.

The outer diameter of the cylindrical body 34 which is inserted, preferably friction-ally, within the hole 30 in the bottom of the ower pot 14, is slightly larger than the diameter of the hole 30, whereby not only is a frictional t provided 4between the body 34 and the pot 14 for watertight purposes, but, after the body 34 is inserted into the hole 30 until `the flange 38 abuts the inset portion 26 of the pot, the body 34 will expand slightly as shown in exaggerated manner in Fig 4 so 4as somewhat to form a locking flange 56. This arrangement securely anchors the valve unit 32 to the bottom of the pot 14. However, if desired for any purpose, the valve unit may be removed from the pot 14 by preferably first removing the needle valve member 44 and then prying the ilange 38 from the bottom of the pot to remove the body portion 34 therefrom.

In order that water may pass from the lower part of reservoir 10 into the pot 14 through the needle valve hole 36, said water must pass into the internal chamber 42 of the valve unit. Such passage is afforded by preferably axially extending openings or channels 58 which are best shown in Fig. 5. Said channels 58 are deeper than the root depths of the threads 40, whereby even when the needle valve member 44 is inserted in the body 34 of the valve unit, the passages 58 remain open, notwithstanding the fact that said channels interrupt the threads 40. However, even though a plurality of the channels or passages 58 are provided, ample areas remain in the threads 40 to engage the external threads 46 on the needle valve member 44.

In the event for example the pot 34 should become broken and a new pot is obtained to replace the same, the vailve unit 32 may be used with the new pot and thus save the expense of purchasing a new valve. Further, said valve unit may be utilized withexisting ower pots not provided with valve arrangements in the bottom thereof. Hence, it is conceivable that the valve unit 32 may be merchandised as a separate item from the entire ower pot assembly.

In ulsing the present invention, it is conceivable that suitable protecting means may be desired directly above the inner end of the valve unit 32, especially to prevent particles of soil or otherwise tfrom entering the small water inlet holes 36 of the valve unit. This easily is accomplished however by using any suitable type of non-corroding or other material which will not be deleterious to plant growth. Rock Wool for example, comprises a suitable substance.

Further, it is preferred that the needle valve member 44 be made from a suitable material which is non-cofrrosive or injurious to plant growth. 'Ibis member for example may be molded from synthetic resin or manufactured on a screw machine or the like `from suitable metal such as lstainless steel. Further, when the needle valve member 44 is inserted into the threads 40 of the valve body 34, the compression of the valve body as a result of being frictionally inserted in the hole 30 will result in providing ample frictional engagement lbetween the threads 40 and 46, whereby any desired setting of the valve easily is achieved and maintained.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 7 through l1, this embodiment of the invention not requiring the removal of the interior flower pot from the exterior container when it is desired to adjust the movable member of the Water inlet valve. Rather, yit is only necessary to manually rotate the projecting upper rim of the interior flower pot about its axis relative to the exterior container in order to effect adjustment of the valve. Certain changes in details of the valve components, as well as the manner in which the valve unit is inserted in the bottom of the interior flower pot also comprise advantageous features incorporated in this additional embodiment.

By referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the exterior container 60 is similar to exterior container 10 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 6, except for one addition to be described hereinafter. The interior of ower pot 62 preferably is circular in cross-section so as to be complementary to the opening 64 formed in the top of exterior container 60. The upper end of pot 62 has an annular, radially extending outer ange 66 which rotatably and slidably abuts the rim of the opening 62 of container 60. By this means, the flower pot 62 is supported within the exterior container 60 so that the bottom 68 of the flower pot 62 preferably is spaced a limited distance above the bottom 70 of exterior container 60, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 9.

The bottom 68 of the ower pot 62 preferably is substantially at, as distinguished from having an inset portion 26 as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 through 6, and is provided with a central, preferably circular hole 72 through which the outer body 74 of valve unit 76 projects. As in regard to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 6, the outer body 74 of valve unit 76 preferably is formed from suitable material which is compressible to a limited extent such as synthetic resin of a non-rigid type, of which polyethylene is one example. Certain -whichtmerges'with -fa radial Vangettl, the latter being 5 :integral with-a flarger cylindrical qportion .82 that termimates :in sanother radial :ange 84. The .outer'diameter `of 1largercylindrical lportion 82 is 5greater .thansthe outer diameter-of .upper portion 780i the valvebody'.74. -.How-

62 is preferably of a slightly smaller diameter than the Iouter diameter `of cylindrical portion I82 :of the valve 4"bodyywhereby when the va'lve unit -iswinserted through hole 72, the outer vwall surfaces of cylindrical portion ".82 .arefcornplementarilycompressed so :as lto` eiect .firm 'lfriction-alyengagement vbetween .the 'valve` housing and 'fthe-perimeter .of lhole 7 2, as :illustrated .in-exemplary .detail finFigj9. `Movementof the valve body 74 H,through hole 72 is arrested by the engagement of flange .84 with K.the umdersurtface of `bottom 68 of Aflowergpot "62 asfclearly shown =in:Figs. `7 and 9. Y V:llhe interiorv of upper portion 78 Vof `v-alvebody 74 h'ollow .tol provide an interior 'cavity `86, .fthe walls ofthe Alowerrrportion of which, as viewed inlFig. 9, are pro- -vided1with'internal threadsrSS. The upper end of cavity 86 terminates in a needle 4valve .discharge Yopening 90 tlrrough `.which water enters the interior of'fflowerpob62.

[The inner surfaces of flange -80`and cylindricalfporation `8-2 .define a'rcylindrical recess 92 which extends up- .wardly .ffrom ange .'84 to receive .the-outer, j preferably cylindrical head 94 of a needle valve member 9.6. The supperfend 98 'ofthe :member'96 `comprises the needle eend softthe 'valve member, -said needle yend cooperating with dischargeopening 9.0 of'valve body l,74'tocorr'iprise .":thewcornplete :needle valvegportion of the valve unit7,6. Theintermediate portion of the needle yvalvemember `*.96ris externally threaded complementarily .to vthe internal l:threads 881of the valve `body 74, the elasticity of -the material from l'which body 74 is formed permitting `snug engagement of the exterior surfaces of the threads .of valve member 96 with the interior threads 88 and thereby prevent'iany'eappreciable leakage of water between said internal and "external threads. .Further,such frictional engagement serves to maintain a desired setting between .th'ei needle valve member96 'and the valve body 74.

"The outer'end of"cylindri'calhead 94 is provided Jwith Y:a concave depressionltl which,"'in'cross=sectionfis somewhat vstar orcross=shaped,"asf shown 'in Fig. '11. "T'fhe "upper end ofsaid "depressionltlllfcommunicates with a vertical or axial central hole 102. The upper end of the central hole 102 communicates with one or more transverse outlet openings 104 in the needle end 98 of valve member 96. The openings 104 permit water to pass from the lower portion of exterior container 60 through depression 100 into central hole 102 and from there through openings 104 into interior cavity 86. From the cavity 86, the water passes through discharge openings 90 into the interior of flower pot 62.

Preferably integral with and extending upwardly from the upper surface of bottom 70 of exterior container 60 is a projection 106 which is substantially complementary to the concave depression 100 in the head 94 of valve member 96. In cross-section, projection 106 is generally complementary in shape to the cross-section of depression 100 as substantially shown in Fig. l1. Preferably, the pro- 55 jection 106 compries four radially extending ribs 108, the outer surfaces of which are rounded downwardly and outwardly as shown in Fig. 9. Such rounded outer surfaces however are only complementary to the adjacent surfaces of depression 100 but are preferably spaced therefrom in order to provide curved passages 110 through which water passes between projection 106 and the walls defining depression 100 in the valve head 94. Also, as best shown in Fig. 1l, there is substantial clearance between the surfaces of depression 100 and the surfaces on projection 106 between the ribs 108,.therebv insuringadequate ,passage .for waterat `all times between -the projection 106 and .central hole 102.

.Due `to the fact .that the projection 106 is. stationary relative ,to the `exterior container 6.0, and the ribs '.108 Iof l.projection .106 -are received within the cross-,shaped nnersurface .of depression 100, only .verylimited relative rotation may take place between projectionl .and `head .94 `of the valvemember .96 before certain `surfaces of theseemembers will abut each other, Awhereby continued `rotation of viower pot 62 .about its vertical .axis relative to `exterior container 60 will result in -rotational movementof valve `member 96 relative -to the valve body 7.4. Such adjustment of the valve .member 96 relative to ,the -body 74 will result .in opening .or closing the space betweenthe needle tend 9.8 .of the valve mem-ber.and the Idischargelopening 'of the valve body 74, such movement .being between Ycompletely .closed and substantially fully opened position. The .latter will occur when the yinner vsurfaces of depression firmly abut the .exterior .surfaces Iof projection 1.06. Any further relative .rotation between the ilower pot and exterior container will .resultin .the .flowerpot being slightly raised relative .to fthe .exterior container but no harm will occur -if .this 'should take place. -Even when the .valve member iis moved to such ,substantially fully .opened .position,ample water fwill be .able .to pass between the .depression ,100 andplug 106.

If fdesire'd, suitable indiciasuch as an arrow 112 may .be .fformed upon theouter llange 66 `as .shown vin Fig. 7,y Yto Vindicate the direction -within which .the flower pot. ,62 ,should be turned relative yto `exterior container 60 .so as vrto `open -the valve more fully'and thereby createa wetter condition within 'the ilower pot .62.

`As in vthe-.embodinleut shown in Figs. l kthrough 6,. if

desired, rock wool or other `similar material may be placed `over the upperv portions 7.8 of valve body 74 to prevent soil particles ,and thelike from entering the .discharge opening90 of the valve unit, thereby interfering with the :desired adjustment ofthe valve for controlled passage of water therethrough. Further, the valve mem-ber 96 prefferably is ymade from noncorroding materials such as .bronze, brass,.alumin.um, or-the like, as long as the material is vnot; .harmful to .the growth of plants within the .ilowerpot 62.

`It will be understood in regard to both .embodiments `ofthe invention that the amount of water required to pass through the needle valve units 'thereof willberelatively small since it is only necessary'tomaintainthe'soil within the ower pots moist to a desired degree. The head of water within the outer containers will induce llow of water through the needle valves, in conjunction with the capillary action of the soil per se.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention comprises several embodiments of self-watering flower pot assemblies which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to assemble. The operation is fool-proof and a wide range of watering capacities are possible with the use of the needle valve units provided respectively in said several embodiments. Any required amount of water for an individual plant may be attained continuously and indefinitely, merely by keeping the reservoir comprising the outer container of both embodiments, filled to a desired degree with water. In the second described embodiment, it is not necessary to remove the interior ower pot from the exterior container in order to effect adjustment of the valve member, but only relative rotation between the ower pot and exterior container is necessary in the desired direction.

While the invention has been described Iand illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may 'be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A self-watering ower pot assembly comprising in combination, an exterior container to serveV asa water reservoir and having an open top, an interior flower pot having a hole in the bottom thereof and suspended into said container through the open top thereof, and a water inlet valve unit mounted within and extending through said hole in the bottom of said flower pot, said valve unit comprising a valve jacket having a water inlet opening in one end and a valve member movably carried by said jacket and operable to open said hole variable amounts and also close it, whereby the amount of waterdrawn from said reservoir through said inlet hole and into the flower pot may be regulated as desired, said jacket having at least a yieldable portion of larger cross-sectional dimension than that of the hole in the bottom of said interior ower pot, whereby said valve jacket may be press-fitted thereinto in water-tight relationship with the walls of said hole to secure said valve assembly to said ower pot.

2. The flower pot assembly set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the valve jacket of said valve unit being an internally threaded cylinder extending through said hole, said jacket also having a radial ange at the end opposite that end having the water inlet hole therein and said flange abutting the bottom surface of said flower pot to position the valve jacket relative thereto.

3. A self-watering ower pot assembly comprising in combination, an exterior container to serve as a water reservoir, an interior ower pot suspended into said container through an opening in the top thereof and sup ported by said container, a water inlet valve mounted within a hole in the bottom of said flower pot, said valve comprising a hollow body having a water outlet opening discharging into the interior of said flower pot and a valve member having a portion adjustably movable relative to said outlet opening to vary the amount of water passing therethrough, and means on said exterior container engageable with said valve member and operable upon relative rotational movement between said ower pot and exterior container to vary the outlet opening of said water inlet valve.

4. The self-watering ower pot assembly of claim 3 further characterized by said means on said exterior container comprising a projection extending upwardly from 4the bottom thereof and engageable with a complementary recess in said valve member.

5. The self-watering ower pot assembly of claim 4 further characterized by said valve member having a head on the lower end thereof provided with a recess extending upwardly thereinto receiving and engageable with the projection extending upwardly from the bottom of said -exterior container.

6l The self-watering flower pot assembly set forth in claim 5 further characterized by said recess in the head of said valve member and said projection on said exterior rcontainer |being irregular in cross-section and loosely complementary, thereby providing a water passageway therebetween at all operative positions of adjustment of said valve member.

7. The self-watering flower pot assembly of claim f3 further characterized by said valve member having a Water inlet opening extending centrally upwardly from the bottom thereof and communicating at the upper end thereof with the water outlet opening of said valve body to permit passage of water from the bottom portion of said exterior container with the interior of said ower pot when said `valve is open.

8. The self-watering flower pot assembly of claim 3 further characterized by the lower surface of the bottom of said ower pot being substantially at and said valve body having a radially extending flange on the perimeter thereof engaging said lower surface of said ower pot when the valve is mounted therein to position the valve body relative to said ower pot.

9. The self-watering ower pot assembly of claim 3 further characterized by said valve body having an annular recess in the lower end thereof and said valve member having a head on the lower end thereof received within said recess.

10. The self-watering flower pot assembly set forth in claim 3 further characterized by the upper end of said flower pot having a radially extending annular shoulder thereon rotatably and slidably engaging the rim of the upper end of said exterior container adjacent the opening therein to support said ower pot, the length of said flower pot being such as to space the ybottom thereof from the bottom of said exterior container to permit water to pass readily to said valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 608,590 Freund Aug. 9, 1898 1,231,976 Weitzel July 3, 1917 1,815,676 Medveczky July 21, 1931 1,848,691 Beach Mar. 8, 1932 2,761,424 Hopkins Sept. 4, 1956 

